Recent soapstone carving showcase at the library a big hit for artists and the public

The Whitecourt & District Public Library holds many programming options each year for people of all ages to enjoy. Soapstone carving is one of the many events on the calendar that gives adults the chance to learn something new. Library Assistant Lisa Daye has been carving with soapstone for about eight years and teaching it at the library for roughly six years.

“We started off doing little things like hearts. We didn’t get to do bigger stuff for the first couple of years. It was always my goal to make a club where people would meet once a month and bring in whatever project they were working on,” explained Daye. After a few years, she said she was thrilled that her goal had come true.

Currently, the club features newbies and those who’ve advanced past the beginner stage. “The current group we have right now is great. They are all really into it, and I’m hoping we can do more, not just a beginner class, because we’ve got some repeat people that we can do a more advanced version of this class.”

Daye said there isn’t a deadline for those working on pieces. “The class doesn’t run for four sessions, and then you must be done. It’s not like that. We meet once a month, and if you can come, great, and if you can’t, no worries, come next time. It’s incredibly rewarding to watch people move from a beginner level into less of a beginner level.”

Daye got her start in soapstone carving on a whim. “I was a homeschool mom at the time, and I signed my kids up for a soapstone carving class because it looked fun, and then I called the teacher and asked if I could come because I thought I would like to do it as well. I sat in on the class, and I loved it so much. As soon as it was over, I figured out where to get more rocks and tools, and I was just off and running. I did it every chance I could and fell in love with it.”

Years into her craft, Daye has pieces on display at two regional art galleries. Wabamum’s Gossamer Gallery & Gifts and Ina’s Gallery in Peers have some of her cherished art creations out for viewing. Daye said it’s exciting to have things on display.

That’s why Daye recently held a showcase at the Whitecourt Library, where participants in her classes could display some of their work for the public. “We had always talked about having a showcase. There are a few students who did exceptional work, and I always wanted to have an event to show off their stuff and invite their friends and family. We’ve been talking about it for years, but it never happened. So, we were finally able to make it happen.”

Daye said she invited both current and past students to join the fun. Some couldn’t make it due to flooding and evacuations but said they would love to participate in another one if she planned it. “We will do this again. It was a fun experience for everyone who participated. I think one of the best things about that night was all of the artists who were displaying their stuff, chatting with each other about their experiences, especially some of the ones who hadn’t met people from the previous classes.”

Roughly half a dozen local artists took part, with some showcasing one piece and others showcasing several. “Some of the pieces were neat. Some people took a raw chunk of stone and made their own little designs, like the little owl. She started with a raw piece and made the whole thing herself.”

Others used a kit that the library had purchased pre-COVID, thanks to a grant. “The kits came with a pre-cut shaped stone and a tool and the things needed to finish it. Some of the pieces came from those kits.” Daye said one of the artists from her class shared her excitement about the art. “One guy got so excited about soapstone that, like me, he went to the city and bought his own rocks and tools and started banging away on it. He brought some of his pieces to show us, which were great.”

Daye said a well-known soapstone artist also joined the showcase. “He came to some of my classes as my friend, but he’s a famous soapstone sculpturer. I didn’t teach him anything in my class,” she laughed. “He just came to hang out because being in a room with other soapstone carvers is fun. He brought one of his sculptures to the showcase, which was lovely.”

The artist, Dave Hogg, lives in Onoway and is well-known across the province for his exceptional skills with soapstone. “He’s been working for years and years. We are friends, and it was a fun opportunity to hang out. It was fun for the people in the class to see a different way of working because he worked with a hammer and a chisel, which is different than what I’m teaching. I’m teaching with smaller tools. It’s a whole different thing, and they got to see that, which was exciting. He works so quickly. It was very generous of him to do that.”

To those who bravely put their hard work on display, Daye said she is proud. She hopes to do a showcase every year. Once her carving class starts back up in the fall, those interested can contact the library to join. “You’ll never know until you try it. It’s something that anyone can do if they want to, and I’m there to help them and walk them through the whole process to try it.”